CE Provider Policies: Accommodations
Accommodations are adjustments or modifications made to courses that provide equitable access to all learners, enabling them to participate fully and demonstrate their knowledge without unnecessary barriers.
What It Looks Like
Providers must establish a clear, accessible process for identifying and responding to learner needs. Providers should communicate this process to learners prior to the course, offering them a straightforward way to indicate any specific needs or accommodation requests. Designing courses to be accessible from the beginning is essential—in doing this, Providers ensure that they are seamlessly integrating learner supports. For more information, refer to Accessibility Guidelines: Creating Accessible Continuing Education.
Although not all-inclusive, consider these key components in your policy:
- Share your organization’s dedication to providing reasonable accommodations.
- Provide a clear process for requesting and receiving accommodations.
- Consider incorporating fields for accommodation and dietary requests during pre-course communications or registration.
- Share examples of common accommodations, such as American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), electronic or Braille versions of materials, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and so forth.
- Collect and maintain contact information to keep learners updated about their requests and any arrangements being made on their behalf.
- Outline any deadlines for requests and explain the reasons for the required lead time to ensure proper accommodations.
When It Happens
Inclusion starts at the design phase. Providers should create educational experiences that allow all learners to participate fully. By integrating accessibility into course design from the start, Providers can reach a wider audience, meet legal standards, and foster an equitable learning environment. Consider the potential need for fiscal resources to support accommodation requests when creating your annual budget.
The Provider should develop an accommodations policy before course creation and should provide learners the chance to request specific needs prior to the course. For example, consider sharing this policy during registration—as the learner will know best regarding what accommodations they will need to participate fully.
How It Supports Compliance
Standard 5.3 ensures that the Provider proactively considers educational formats and designs that are adaptable, inclusive, and accessible to all learners.
- The Provider must have a process for identifying and addressing learner needs and accommodations.
- The Provider must provide clear instructions to learners – prior to the course-on how to communicate their needs.
By formalizing these commitments, the Provider meets accessibility requirements while enhancing the overall learning experience.
For additional information, review Accessibility Guidelines: Creating Accessible Continuing Education.
Why It Matters
Providers should create inclusive educational experiences that allow all participants to engage meaningfully. An accommodations policy allows your organization to receive and address requests that support individual learner needs. This helps the Provider ensure broader participation, meet legal obligations, and support a fair, respectful environment for everyone.
Bottom Line
Providing accommodations fosters an inclusive environment that values diverse needs, supports equitable access, and empowers every learner to engage and succeed.
